Children and Guns Don't Mix

On January 31, 2012, my 15 year old daughter, Kate, and a friend went to visit a 14 year old boy after school. The 14 year old's parents were not at home. The 14 year old was showing a gun to them when the gun accidentally went off, grazing his cheek.

Kate said, "All of a sudden the lights went off. When they came back on, his face looked like a zombie's."

Kate and her friend called 911. They stayed with their injured pal until his mother, the paramedics and the police arrived.

The police determined the incident was an accident. Foul play was not suspected.

Our police chief said, "“The kid is in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is so lucky. One inch either way and this would have turned out a lot differently.”

The 14 year old sustained a fractured jaw. He was released from the hospital in early February, but had to take off six weeks of school to recover. I am so grateful that he is alive and that no one else was injured.

I recommend that parents who own guns enroll their older children and teenagers in a gun safety course.

Kids are curious. Sometimes they do dumb things. Even good kids make mistakes. If you own guns, please keep them locked up.

Will Senator Roach Help Families Victimized by CPS?

On February 23, 2012, Senator Pam Roach (R-Auburn) met with families who have had unhappy experiences with the Child Protective Services (CPS) at a press conference in Olympia, Washington. Chuck and Judy Cox and their attorney, Anne Bremner, were among the guest speakers.

Prior to the press conference, a member of Senator Roach's staff sent an email to interested people. The email stated that "the purpose of the meeting will be to explore the serious problems of CPS and to explore solutions to actions that may cause children harm." Interested people were invited to bring their 1 ½ minute ideas about CPS to the meeting.

Families drove from as far as Vancouver, Washington to attend the press conference. One man, who is hoping to regain custody of his children, said he came because "CPS is incredibly corrupt."

At the public hearing, one lady rose and complained because she was not notified when her son attempted suicide while CPS had custody of him. She also complained that she has not been allowed to see her son "in months." This was unfair to her and to her child because Joshua Powell was permitted to have supervised visitation with his sons in a house he rented.

A paper entitled "21 Reasons CPS Takes Low Income Kids" was given to interested people at the meeting. This paper was written by Catherine Sullivan, a board member of Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights (P.O.W.E.R.) Ms. Sullivan lists the number 1 reason is because low income families do not have the financial resources to defend themselves from false allegations. While it is illegal in Washington to take children because their families are poor, CPS often takes children because their families cannot afford electricity, health care, housing, etc. Ms. Sullivan also states, "Taking low income kids and selling them to the highest bidders is big business reaping $millions for everyone but their families."

After the meeting, another lady stated that she felt the email from Senator Roach's office was misleading because people were not given 1 1/2 minutes to speak as promised. She expressed her disappointment that Senator Roach did not address her complaint that foster parents are not screened for substance abuse in Washington. She suggests that the state require all foster parents be regularly screened for alcohol, illegal drug and prescription drug abuse.

Senator Roach Meets Judy and Chuck Cox

On February 23, 2012, Senator Pam Roach (R- Auburn) hosted a press conference in Olympia, Washington which addressed CPS and the murders of Charlie and Braden Powell. Guest speakers included the boys' maternal grandparents, Chuck and Judy Cox.

Background of the case: Susan Cox Powell was last seen at her home in West Valley, Utah on December 7, 2009. Shortly thereafter, her husband and their young sons moved into his father's home in Puyallup, Washington.

At the press conference, Mr. Cox explained that he felt his grandsons were being emotionally abused (but not physically abused) when they were living with his son-in-law, Joshua Powell. After Josh's father, Steve Powell, was arrested for voyeurism and child pornography, CPS took custody of the boys. Joshua Powell was granted four hours of supervised visitation with his sons each week at a Department of Human Services facility. An elderly social worker supervised the visits at the DHS facility.

Visitation was moved to a house that Joshua Powell rented in Graham, Washington after he complained that he felt uncomfortable at the DHS facility because other parents recognized him. (After the boys were murdered, it was learned that Josh Powell did not live at the rental house. He still lived at his father's home in Puyallup.)

Although Chuck and Judy Cox had temporary custody of the boys, Mr. Cox felt that the court believed everything that Joshua Powell said about them. Josh's demands were the priority; the Coxes had no rights. If the Coxes complained, DHS reminded them that their goal was to reunify the boys with their father.

Josh Powell did not want the children to attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Therefore, the Coxes were prohibited from taking Charlie and Braden to the LDS church or on any LDS church property.

Mr. Cox complained that granting visitation rights to Joshua Powell after Josh was ordered to a psycho-sexual exam was a "glaring error." CPS knew that Josh was a suspect in the murder of his wife because the West Valley Police Department shared information with CPS. The Utah search warrants were signed by a judge and stated that Joshua Powell was a suspect in the murder of Susan Cox Powell (not merely in her disappearance.)

Unfortunately, the court sealed these search warrants. The only person protected by sealing them was Joshua Powell.

Judy Cox stated that on February 5, 2012, Charlie and Braden did not want to visit their father. She said that Braden seemed to be afraid of Josh. Mrs. Cox stated she had a feeling that something bad was going to happen that day. She didn't call off the visit because she knew she might lose custody of her grandsons if she interfered with Joshua Powell's visitation rights (contempt of court.)

The elderly social worker drove the boys to visit their father at the rental house in Graham on February 5, 2012. After locking the woman out of the house, Joshua Powell used a hatchet on his sons and set the house on fire. He, Charlie and Braden died in the fire.

SB 6603 is one of several bills proposed related to this case and Washington State CPS. SB 6603 would prevent an award of child custody to someone considered a suspect in an active murder case. I believe this is the bill that Senator Roach would like to call "Charlie and Braden's Law."

Another bill related to this case is SB 6604. If passed, SB 6604 will require all Washington State CPS workers to be licensed in social work and bonded.

SSB 6416 (2010) has already passed in the Senate 48-0 and the House 98-0. This new law will give grandparents standing in the courtroom.

Senator Roach concluded the press conference by leading a prayer for the Washington State trooper who was killed this morning.

Victim's Family Devastated by Commuted Sentence

In November 2011, I wrote several articles about Francis Hernandez, a punk with whom I was briefly acquainted when I was a teenager. After my family and I moved away from Long Beach, California, Fran was arrested, tried and convicted of murdering 21 year old Edna Bristol and 16 year old Kathy Ryan. He was sentenced to death. In August 2011, the California Supreme Court commuted his sentence to life in prison.

Last week, Kathy Ryan's brother commented on my articles. I want to share his comments with my readers because I'm opposed to abolishing the death penalty. When a convicted killer's sentence is commuted, it can be devastating to his victims' families.

First Comment:

"I came across your blog today and was both shocked and amazed. Kathaleen Ryan (Kathy) is my sister. She was not just killed by Francis Hernandez, she was raped, sodomized, and physically abused. When the court overturned a death penalty that was more than likely never going to be carried out my family was sent again into a tail spin. Both my parents are still living and this event ruined them for life as people. I can not begin to express how this has changed my life. My sister was murdered 31 years ago this week and I look at her pictures and it still hurts. Now I am an only children with older parents who do not know any joy.

As for him being abused, I am sorry, but neither Edna nor Kathy had great family lives. Your past should not be used as a reason to commit horrible acts against anyone.

I am surprised though that this has not been a bigger deal in the press. As you wrote he has been on death row 30 years. You think this appeal would be a story at least in the Long Beach area. The over turning of the death sentence has also been appealed. So far no news. knew this and who you are. If you write on this topic again please know that Kathy is as real today to me as the day she died and I am very protective of her.
Daniel Ryan III"

Second Comment:

Francis did not know Edna. He was just a girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can not say that Francis and Kathy were friends, but he knew some of the same people she did. He was a violent killer not a clever one. When he killed my sister there was plenty of evidance to convict him. Not so with Edna. I think of Edna and her family now as I type this and they were so poor and lost in the court room.I have no idea what happened to them or if any of them are still living.I was only 20 at the time hearing things you never want to. In the end I would say he killed both girls and maybe others we do not know about because he could. He had no soul. These were not crimes of anger, or passion, these were thought out plans of evil.

My reply:

Dear Daniel:

I want you to know that many people who live or have lived in Long Beach still remember your sister and Edna. I was acquainted with Fran, but I did not know the girls. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forgive him for what he did to Kathy and Edna.

Shortly after the murders, the friend who introduced Fran to me told me that Fran was acquainted with Edna. My friend said Edna was hitchhiking. Fran recognized her and offered her a ride. The thought of Fran raping and murdering girls whom he knew made him all the more frightening to us. If the information I had was incorrect, I apologize.

I have always believed that Edna and Kathy were Fran's only victims. But you are right. He may have murdered others whom we don't know about. After all, he was a serial killer and a child killer. I hope that he is never released from prison because I'm afraid he will pick up where he left off.

Best of luck to you and to your family!
Love,
April

Good News from Senator Mike Carrell

Yesterday Senator Mike Carrell (Republican-28th Legislative District) telephoned me with good news. Senate Bill 5456 is dead!

Senator Debbie Regala (Democrat-Tacoma) introduced Senate Bill 5456 last month. This bill would have abolished the death penalty in Washington. Ms. Regala was in favor of abolishing the death penalty, partly because the appeals are so costly. She said the money used on appeals could be spent on other things.

Senator Carrell serves Pierce County. He is a long-time advocate of victims' rights. He said that he and Senator Pam Roach (Republican-31st Legislative District) successfully argued against Senate 5456. He said they gave the bill the death penalty.

I am opposed to abolishing the death penalty because it is so useful in making plea bargains. For example, Gary Ridgway (also known as the Green River Killer) helped the police locate the remains of more than 40 of the women he killed after King County prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty against him. I don't believe that law enforcement would have been able to locate all of those bodies without the plea bargain. I feel that locating victims' bodies is important. Families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones so they can give them proper burials.

Thank you, Senator Carrell and Senator Roach, for doing such a good job!

Should Josh Powell be Buried in Woodbine Cemetery?

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Joshua Powell's family would like to buy him near his sons in Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup, WA. Crime Stoppers has purchased several burial plots located next to his sons' grave, hoping to prevent the Powells from burying next to the children.

Chuck and Judy Cox are taking legal action to prevent the Powells from burying Joshua next to their young grandsons. I fully support the Coxes about this. Even if Josh wasn't involved in Susan Cox Powell's disappearance, he murdered his two sons. The idea of burying a murderer next to his victims is deplorable to me.

This issue is a victims' rights issue. Charlie and Braden should be allowed to rest in peace. They should not be forced to spent eternity next to the man who killed them, even if he was their father.

Those of you who accuse the Coxes of promoting hate should try to look at it from the victims' point of view. These two innocent little boys had their whole lives ahead of them when their father murdered them in a most cruel and horrific way. Josh Powell took Charlie and Braden away from the Coxes, the Powells, the Graves and everyone else who loved them. Josh Powell violated his sons' trust. He stole his sons' childhood. The little boys were not permitted to finish elementary school. They won't be able to go to their senior proms. They won't attend college. They will never know the joy of falling in love, getting married or having children of their own. They missed out on so much because they were murdered by the man who was supposed to love and protect them.

Woodbine Cemetery is city-owned. Puyallup's residents might object to a child killer being buried in their cemetery. Others might object to a man who committed suicide being buried on hallowed ground. If Joshua Powell is buried in the cemetery, it might cause a decrease in plot values. Perhaps Puyallup's city council should call an emergency meeting and vote on whether the Powells should be permitted to bury Josh at Woodbine Cemetery.

I hope the Powell family will reconsider burying Josh. His family should take into consideration that Josh's grave will probably be vandalized if the public knows where it is. After all, Josh Powell is one of the most hated men in our state now. May I suggest that the Powells cremate Josh and keep his ashes in an urn in their own home?

Washington and Utah Grieve for Susan Powell's Boys

On Saturday, February 11, 2012, my husband and I attended the celebration of life honoring Susan Cox Powell's sons, seven year old Charlie and five year old Braden.

Normally, my husband and I don't go to funerals. We don't like them. But I've been following the story of Susan's disappearance in the Salt Lake Tribune since December 2009. We decided to go and show our support for the Cox famiy, Terrica Powell, and the Graves family.

Two funerals were held for Susan's boys on Saturday. More than one thousand people, including my husband and me, attended the funeral held in the morning at the Life Center Church in Tacoma. A second service was held at the LDS church in Puyallup in the afternoon.

The Westboro Baptist Church had announced that they intended to picket the service. A member of the Phelps family said that God allowed the boys to die because He is angry because our state legalized gay marriage. Why the Westboro Baptists think people are stupid enough to believe their nonsense is beyond me. Fortunately, the Phelps cancelled their plans shortly before the funeral.

About 100 bikers attended the funeral at the Life Center Church. The words "Gargoyles -- Protectors of Children" and "Bikers Against Child Abuse" blazed across the backs of their black leather jackets. I was grateful to see the bikers there. I felt that their presence helped to keep the Westboro Baptists and other troublemakers away. A small group of women and children carrying red balloons and signs which said "Love... Love... Love" stood across the street from the church.

The service itself was beautiful. Life Center Church's senior pastor, Dean Curry, welcomed the Cox and Powell families and the guests. He stated that the service would focus "two beautiful boys," and it did. Pastor Tim, who is a friend of the Cox family, led the opening prayer. Tears ran down my cheeks when a children's choir sang "Amazing Grace." A video presentation displayed photos of Charlie and Braden with their mother and other family members. Charlie's kindergarten teacher gave a speech in which she shared her happy memories of him. The boys attended a YMCA day camp in Washington. Braden's day camp counselor gave a talk about him. The boys' lives were short, but they touched so many hearts.

Kirk Graves, Joshua Powell's brother-in-law, led the benediction. At the end of the service, Judy and Chuck Cox thanked the guests for coming. Both appeared to be calm and composed, which was surprising because they have lost their daughter and two young grandsons. If I had been in Judy Cox's shoes, I don't think I would have been able to handle the funeral as well as she did.

As you may know, Susan Cox Powell has been missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah since December 2009. She is presumed by many to be dead. Her husband, Joshua Powell, claimed that he took his young sons on a winter camping trip during the middle of the night. He said that when they returned to their home, his wife was gone. Shortly after Susan disappeared, Josh and the boys moved into his father's home in Puyallup, Washington.

Josh's father, Steve Powell, was arrested several months ago for child pornography and voyeurism. He remains in jail. Joshua Powell murdered the boys and committed suicide on February 5, 2012.

If you would like to make a donation to Charlie and Braden Powell's memorial fund, you may do so at any branch of Wells Fargo Bank.

Rest in peace, Charlie and Braden.

Styx -- "Looks Like We're Ready for a Rock Concert!

Tommy Shaw and the legendary rock n roll band, Styx, performed at the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife, Washington on Friday, February 3, 2012.

I wish I could tell you what was their opening number, but so many people came to the show that we couldn't find a parking place. As we were walking toward the casino, we heard them playing "Blue Collar Man." There was standing room only in the packed theater. Shortly after we entered the auditorium, the lead guitarist and key boardist, Lawrence Gowan, announced, "Looks like we're ready for a rock concert!"

Back in 1979, I lived in Long Beach, California. My friend, Julie, heard that a radio station called KEZY was giving away free tickets to the Styx concert in Anaheim. We didn't win tickets to the concert. But Julie called the radio station so much that a disc jockey invited us to a backstage party for Styx. The party was held at a hotel near Disneyland. I met lead guitarist Tommy Shaw at the party. He gave his autograph to me. I was thrilled.

In 2012, Tommy Shaw looks remarkably like he did in 1979. He told the audience that "Crystal Ball" was the first song he wrote for Styx. When the band to play it, a man in the crowd shouted, "I love this song!"
The band proudly announced that their drummer, Todd Sucherman, was selected to perform on the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary album.

Having grown up in the 70's, I thoroughly enjoyed their performance of "Lady," which brought back memories of being young and beautiful to my mind. It was wonderful to feel like a teenage girl again.

Styx played "I'm OK," "Too Much Time on My Hands," "Miss America," "Come Sail Away," and "Renegade." Lawrence Gowan did perform on his famous rotating stand. We noticed that the band did not play "Babe" or "Mr. Roboto." "Babe" was Dennis DeYoung's, and he left Styx in 1999.

Of all the concerts I've been to at the Emerald Queen, I enjoyed the Styx concert the most. They put on a great show. I'm looking forward to attending the Styx concert next year.

Should Washington Abolish the Death Penalty? We Don't Want Texas Law Here

In 1997, my husband was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas. When our family was driving to our new home, I noticed the "Don't Mess with Texas" signs on the highway. I tell everyone to take those signs seriously. Texas executes more people than any other state in our nation.

Most of the people with whom I was acquainted in Texas were in favor of the death penalty. They believed that there was no absolutely excuse for murder. It didn't matter if the defendant was a minor, mentally retarded, a woman or a born-again Christian. I found myself agreeing with Texans more often than not, just as I agreed with my father years earlier.

If you are convicted of murder in Texas, there is a very good chance the state will execute you. If you are Afro-American, Hispanic or poor, the likelihood is greater.

Shortly after my family moved to Washington in 2005, I had a conversation with my new co-workers about the death penalty. I was shocked when they said they didn't want Texas law here. One lady brought up a case in which a minor who had committed rape and murder in Texas was sentenced to death. My first response was, "But he killed someone. He deserves to die." My co-worker explained that it is wrong to execute a person for a crime he committed as a minor because a minor's brain isn't fully developed. A minor can't reason the same way an adult can reason. My co-worker's explanation made sense.

In Roper vs. Simmons, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the eighth and fourteenth amendments prohibit executing offenders who were under age 18 when they committed their crimes. I agree.

I also agree with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that prohibits executing mentally retarded offenders.

Because so many people were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit, the more the death penalty is restricted, the better!

Nevertheless, I don't believe that the death penalty should abolished together. I have bragged that Washington's prosecutors use the death penalty more wisely than Texas' prosecutors. Why? Think of the Green River Killer.

In 2005, Gary Ridgway entered a guilty plea to 48 charges of aggravated first degree murder as part of a plea bargain that would spare him execution in exchange for his cooperation in locating his victims' remains. Deputy prosecutor Jeffrey Baird stated that plea bargain contained "the names of 41 victims who would not be the subject of State v. Ridgway if it were not for the plea agreement."

Another example would be the Zina Linnik case. Pierce County prosecutors planned to charge Terapon Adhahn with aggravated first degree murder. However, they agreed not to seek the death penalty against Adhahn if he helped the police locate Zina Linnik's body. Shortly thereafter, Adhahn led police to the girl's body.

Think of Susan Cox Powell. Victims' families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones so that they can give them proper burials.

The death penalty is one of law enforcement's most useful tools in solving crime. Do not take this tool away from them. Prosecutors should be encouraged to use it to make plea bargains to locate bodies or obtain confessions in cases that would be otherwise difficult or impossible to solve. Instruct prosecutors to seek sentences of life in prison. The number of cases in which murderers are sentenced to death should be kept to a minimum because the appeals are so costly.

Therefore, I respectfully ask Washington's state senators to vote against abolishing the death penalty. Thank you.